[{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"44135","proposer":"10521","edm":"3","session":"2012-13","title":"Fatalities And Major Injuries In The Workplace","text":"That this House is alarmed that the number of people killed in the workplace in the2010-11 financial year increased to 171, 24 more than in the previous 12 months; is concernedby figures published by the Health and Safety Executive that nationally more than 24,700 workers suffered a major injury between April 2010 and March 2011; and, while acknowledging that Britain has one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths in Europe, urges the Government not to reduce health and safety regulations. ","date":"2012-05-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"44112","proposer":"10534","edm":"3004","session":"2010-12","title":"Bacteria In Supermarket Chickens","text":"That this House notes with concern the current Consumer Association investigation into bacteria levels in UK supermarket chickens; is concerned that the evidence suggests that 18 per cent of the sample of chickens taken in the survey were contaminated with campylobacter bacteria; and calls for urgent action by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairsto tackle this health hazard, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency, and introduce the necessary processes to eliminate this serious potential source of food poisoning.","date":"2012-04-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43966","proposer":"10203","edm":"2862","session":"2010-12","title":"Deaths Caused By Looped Blind Cords","text":"That this House is distressed at the news of further deaths of infants caused by looped blind cords, including that of a 22-month-old boy in January; notes the recent increase in these tragedies reported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, including three in the past month; recalls the 359 cord deaths in the USA in a 14 year period; regrets the slow progress by industry in introducing cords with safety features; and urges the Government to bring forward an initiative to publicise the serious danger to the lives of children from 250 million cords in homes in the UK.","date":"2012-03-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43795","proposer":"10428","edm":"2696","session":"2010-12","title":"Exposure To Asbestos","text":"That this House is aware that every year in the UK over 4,000 people die as a result of their past exposure to asbestos, deaths which are not confined to only those employed in industrial settings; notes that more than 75 per cent. of Britain's state schools contain asbestos, much of which is in a poorly maintained state, leaving some children, teachers and other staff in danger of being contaminated by this killer fibre; is therefore greatly alarmed by recent evidence which shows that morethan 100 people die of mesothelioma every year in the UK as a direct result of their exposure whilst they were at school; and commends the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Groupon Occupational Safety and Health which investigated the scale of the problem and published a report making clear and simple recommendations about how to prevent future exposure in these and other vulnerable surroundings.","date":"2012-02-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43662","proposer":"10521","edm":"2567","session":"2010-12","title":"Fatalities And Major Injuries In The Workplace","text":"That this House is alarmed that the number of people killed in the workplace in the last financial year increased to 171, 24 more than in the previous 12 months; is concerned at figures published by the Health and Safety Executive that nationally more than 24,700 workers suffered a major injury between April 2010 and March 2011; and while acknowledging that Britain has one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths in Europe, urges the Government not to reduce health and safety regulations.","date":"2012-01-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43546","proposer":"24966","edm":"2454","session":"2010-12","title":"Use Of Peroxide In Hairdressing","text":"That this House notes a number of recent tragic cases of people injured and even killed by peroxide hair products; further notes that these injuries are entirely preventable without banning the products; believes that having all qualified hairdressers properly registered will further enable the industry strongly to encourage purchasers to have the product applied only by professionals; and encourages the Government to consider the statutory registration of all professional hairdressers.","date":"2011-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43556","proposer":"24735","edm":"2464","session":"2010-12","title":"Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems In Business Premises","text":"That this House is concerned at the risk to firefighters' lives and safety caused by fires in industrial and commercial buildings, as well as the cost of these fires through the loss of business, jobs and destruction of property and the impact on the environment of water waste, carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants; believes that effective automatic fire protection for industrial and commercial buildings enhances arson prevention and business resilience; recognises the efficacy and value of automatic fire sprinklers for the protection and hence sustainability of both business and buildings; notes that building regulation provisions for automatic fire sprinkler installation in industrial and commercial buildings differ between England and Wales and Scotland and that even so, the vast majority of industrial and commercial buildings in the UK are not required by law to be protected from fire by automatic fire sprinkler systems; and so urges the Government to implement UK-wide measures to incentivise the business community to install automatic fire sprinkler systems into all industrial and commercial buildings.","date":"2011-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43365","proposer":"10133","edm":"2262A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Fees And Charges Of The Health And Safety Executive","text":"leave out from `letter' to end and add `and believes that the safety of all employees is paramount and that the HSE has effectively improved health and safety over the years of its existence.'.","date":"2011-10-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43345","proposer":"24784","edm":"2262","session":"2010-12","title":"Fees And Charges Of The Health And Safety Executive","text":"That this House opposes the idea of charging small firms for health and safety inspections, as proposed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE); notes that there is a risk this could be seen as a way to raise revenue rather than improve compliance, as the Federation of Small Businesses has argued; further notes that the HSE's own calculations say that the cost to a small business could be at least 750 for each inspection that results in a letter; further notes that if implemented this could hit jobs and growth; and calls on the Government to resist red tape from the HSE and to do everything possible to help small British firms to prosper.","date":"2011-10-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43222","proposer":"24735","edm":"2146","session":"2010-12","title":"Workout At Work Day","text":"That this House notes with concern that the economic cost to society in sickness absence due to musculoskeletal conditions is 7.4 billion a year and that 50 per cent. of people on incapacity benefit suffer from musculoskeletal problems; further notes research by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy found that 36 per cent. of employees worked through their lunch break and 31 per cent. experienced pain at work at least once a week; believes these economic and personal costs could be greatly reduced by encouraging better working habits, and providing early access to services, such as physiotherapy, for people who develop musculoskeletal conditions; welcomes the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's Workout at Work Day initiative on 8th September 2011, to mark World Physical Therapy Day and raise awareness amongst employers of the importance of encouraging activity in the workplace; and calls on businesses to ensure employees have access to a range of early intervention services, including physiotherapy, to help deliver improvements in health and public health outcomes.","date":"2011-09-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43227","proposer":"10383","edm":"2151","session":"2010-12","title":"Cool It! Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Cool it! Campaign launched by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union to highlight and tackle the problem of high temperatures in workplaces; believes that workers should not be forced to endure high temperatures without adequate measures being taken by the employer to control the effect of heat; supports clear legislation which is easy to enforce and in which employers understand their obligations and employees understand their rights; and therefore calls on the Government to provide clear, coherent and enforceable requirements for employers about how to combat heat in the workplace, including the introduction of a maximum working temperature of around 30 degrees celsius and 27 degrees celsius for those doing strenuous work.","date":"2011-09-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"43127","proposer":"10754","edm":"2056","session":"2010-12","title":"Action Mesothelioma Day","text":"That this House congratulates the many asbestos support groups throughout the country who on 1 July 2011 came together to remember the thousands of people who have died of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease for which there is no cure; expresses concern that the British mesothelioma death rate is the highest in the world; is concerned at thisand the rising number of deaths of teachers and other support workers working inschools due tothe large number of schools which still contain asbestos; commends the work of the Asbestos in Schools Group; and calls on the Government to adopt US-style policies of disclosure with local authorities and governors, providing an annual update to parents and teachers on the condition and management of asbestos in schools.","date":"2011-07-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42951","proposer":"10032","edm":"1884","session":"2010-12","title":"Institution Of Occupational Safety And Health's Life Savings Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the launch of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's (IOSH) Life Savings campaign which highlights how UK business can save money by investing in good health and safety; further welcomes IOSH's helpful advice and guidance which aims to save the economy billions of pounds by reducing lost output, expenditure, national healthcare and state benefit costs, as well as cutting workplace deaths, injuries and illness and saving thousands of people from leading blighted lives; and calls on the Government to show real leadership by demonstrating the considerable benefits of good health and safety management to all employers and supporting them in its achievement.","date":"2011-06-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42945","proposer":"24763","edm":"1878","session":"2010-12","title":"Health Impacts Of Low Energy Lighting","text":"That this House welcomes the positive contribution that low energy lighting bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are making to reduce energy consumption; acknowledges that ultra-violet radiation, electric fields and peaks in light wavelength from CFLs can aggravate conditions including lupus, migraines, autistic conditions, ME and xeroderma pigmenosum; notes the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health's statement that between 30,000 and 40,000 people in the UK might be at risk of harm in this respect; also notes that the campaign group the Spectrum Alliance estimate this figure to be in excess of 250,000; acknowledges that this restricts both the range of work and day-to-day activities these people can undertake; is aware that incandescent light bulbs are the only light source not to have such effects; acknowledges that Commission Regulation (EC) No 244\/2009 prohibits the sale of incandescent light bulbs; supports the Spectrum Alliance's campaign to have incandescent light bulbs made available to those affected; and urges the Department of Health to seek an exemption from the Commission Regulation in this respect.","date":"2011-06-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42900","proposer":"24935","edm":"1834","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety Offences: Companies Entering Administration","text":"That this House is deeply concerned that companies continue to avoid prosecutions and have fines reduced for committing health and safety offences by going into administration and then re-establishing their business using a slightly different name with the same premises and the same equipment; notes in April this year that Bryn Thomas Crane Hire was convicted for health and safety offences following the death of Mark Thornton in Liverpool in March 2007 and were fined the significantly reduced amount of 4,500 due to the company being in administration; further notes that the owner of Bryn Thomas Crane Hire is now trading as Bryn Thomas Cranes Limited using largely the same plant and equipment; and calls on the Government to introduce stronger legislation to ensure that companies can no longer avoid justice by going into administration.","date":"2011-05-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42818","proposer":"10383","edm":"1761","session":"2010-12","title":"Workers' Memorial Day","text":"That this House welcomes the fact that Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April is an internationally recognised day which commemorates those who have died, been seriously injured, or made seriously ill by their work; notes with regret that according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last year 1.3 million people suffered from a long-standing or new illness caused by or made worse by their work, 152 workers were killed at work and thousands of people died of mesothelioma and occupational cancers and lung diseases; recognises that the real figures are likely to be much higher as many work-related incidents are not included in the HSE's headline statistics; deeply laments that people are still dying, being seriously injured or made ill simply as a result of carrying out their day-to-day job often as a result of health and safety failingsby employers; further notes the estimated cost of around 30 billion per year to the economy of poor workplace health and safety and that this burden is borne heavily by workers and their families; expresses concern at the budget cuts faced by the HSE of around 35 per cent. and the Government's proposals contained in Common Safety - progress report; reaffirms the right of all workers to work in a safe and healthy workplace; and therefore calls on the Government to make Workers' Memorial Day a public holiday and to ensure that the HSE is adequately resourced in order to stop more people dying or receiving injuries or being made ill unnecessarily.","date":"2011-04-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42701","proposer":"24905","edm":"1650","session":"2010-12","title":"Paper Towels In Retailers' Public Toilets","text":"That this House notes the findings of Redway and Fawdar at the European Tissue Symposium in 2009 that demonstrates the ineffectiveness of warm air dryers and jet air dryers in reducing levels of bacteria on the skin; further notes that both methods of hand drying produce a mean increase in bacteria and that, for users of colostomy bags for whom sanitation is a paramount concern, the bacteria present through blow air drying methods are particularly hazardous when changing colostomy bags; welcomes the fact that certain major retailers are installing paper towels in all disabled toilet facilities; and urges the Government to make the installation of paper towels in a disabled toilet facilities a legal requirement to safeguard the health and safety of colostomy bag users.","date":"2011-03-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42552","proposer":"10383","edm":"1513","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety Enforcement And Funding Of The Health And Safety Executive","text":"That this House congratulates the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on its essential work in the public interest to enforce the law and to reduce work-related death, illness and serious injury; notes that the HSE's resource has decreased year on year for the last 10 years and that this year the Government announced a cut to the HSE's funding of 35 per cent. over the next four years; further notes that additional cuts would render the HSE unable to enforce health and safety law and regulate workplace safety effectively; opposes the closure of the Preston and Manchester offices; is concerned that cuts are being introduced at a time when, according to HSE figures, between April 2009 and March 2010 152 people were fatally injured at work, there were 26,061 major injuries such as amputation and burns to employees and 1.3 million people were suffering from an illness believed to have been caused or made worse by their current or past work; and urges the Government to drop the rushed and ill-conceived proposals in the Young Report and to maintain the remit, funding and staff at the HSE so as to avoid the trauma, heartache and loss suffered by workers and their families every year as a result of workplace accidents and unhealthy working conditions that could be avoided.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42553","proposer":"10383","edm":"1514","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety Survey","text":"That this House notes that the results of a survey conducted by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group show that stress levels at work have soared over the last 12 months as job cuts take place; further notes that as a result of worsening conditions at work, over one in four workers are more stressed than was the case 12 months ago; further notes that over one in five workers report that they are having to work harder as a result of job cuts in their workplace with one in seven workers in fear of losing their jobs; further notes that eight out of 10 of these workers believe that their work situation has become worse over the last 12 months; believes that this survey demonstrates the rising levels of stress and job insecurity in the workplace and that the Government's cuts threaten the gains made in the workplace over generations; and calls on the Government to ensure that health and safety is treated not as a side issue in the workplace but is properly resourced and to take action to prevent the rising levels of stress in the workplace.","date":"2011-03-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42519","proposer":"11093","edm":"1480","session":"2010-12","title":"Protecting Workers From Asbestos-Related Diseases","text":"That this House notes that over 2,500 people died from asbestos-related diseases in 2009; further notes that the European Commission has told the UK to change laws that exempt some maintenance and repair activities from the EU Directive protecting workers from asbestos; and calls on the Government immediately to review these exemptions and give UK workers the level of protection from asbestos they deserve.","date":"2011-02-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42527","proposer":"10383","edm":"1488","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety In The Food Industry","text":"That this House notes that health and safety in the food industry is important for the workforce and the consumer; believes that working with hot ovens in baking premises can be hazardous due to the heat levels involved which can cause stress, irritability, heat cramps and strain on the heart and lungs; further believes that there should be a maximum workplace temperature at which companies would have to take measures to make working more tolerable; further notes that this is not the only hazard facing workers in the food industry; further notes that Lord Young's review of health and safety recommended a consultation on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations; further believes that this should be an opportunity to improve health and safety in the workplace rather than allow companies to downgrade their obligations to their workforces; further notes that bakers' asthma remains a danger for many in the food industry; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive is properly resourced to maintain and improve health and safety in the workplace.","date":"2011-02-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42528","proposer":"10436","edm":"1489","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety For Journalists","text":"That this House notes that journalists provide news and information as part of their job, which is essential for a functioning democracy and an informed public; further notes that their work can place some journalists at considerable risk from time to time; believes that a major cause of risk to journalists based in the UK is stress and that excessive job-related stress levels have been taken for granted by many in the industry and that at present stress levels are increasingly exacerbated by policies introduced by media employers; further notes that, on the international league table of occupational stress, journalists share third place with prison officers and airline pilots; considers that stress is associated with higher workloads caused by cuts, low wages, excessive overtime and the introduction of new working methods by employers such as Newsquest and Johnston Press, and that these factors have all contributed towards unhealthy working environments; and further believes that these problems have a knock-on effect which can damage quality journalism.","date":"2011-02-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42529","proposer":"10368","edm":"1490","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety In The Prison Service","text":"That this House is concerned at the cuts to frontline prison staff; recognises that these cuts, coupled with the cuts to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) budget, will make prisons even more unsafe for staff, prisoners and visitors; notes that the members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) face a double threat to their health and safety in the workplace at a time of major unrest and unprecedented levels of violence within the prison system; believes that the imposition of austere cuts in the Prison Service budget will result in an increase of assaults against POA members anda further reduction in staffing levels will make their workplaces even more dangerous places to work and live; further believes that the proposed cuts to the Health and Safety Executive budgetwill mean that safety improvements that have been achieved, with the assistance of the HSE, will be botheroded by an employer which has a poor health and safety record and tied to the delivery of draconian budget cuts; and calls on the Government to consider again the consequences of its proposed cuts to the budgets of Her Majesty's Prison Service and the Health and Safety Executive.","date":"2011-02-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42530","proposer":"10383","edm":"1491","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety In The Probation Service And Cafcass","text":"That this House believes that the health and safety of probation and family courts staff is a priority; believes that all reported incidents of threats to staff in the Probation Service and the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) must be investigated thoroughly and any recommendations from such investigations should be acted upon as soon as possible; and furtherbelieves that adequate funding should be available to ensure the health and safety obligations of Cafcass and Probation Service management are adhered to.","date":"2011-02-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42450","proposer":"13864","edm":"1421","session":"2010-12","title":"Flight Time Limitations For Pilots","text":"That this House notes that between 15 and 20 per cent. of all fatal air accidents cite pilot fatigue as a contributing factor; takes into account the restrictions which lorry drivers face in travelling time; acknowledges the difficult working conditions that pilots currently face within the UK; and opposes any change within the draft EU legislation being put forward which will result in pilots facing up to a 40 per cent. increase in duty on one day.","date":"2011-02-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42380","proposer":"11534","edm":"1359","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety Executive's Hidden Killer Campaign","text":"That this House notes that the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Hidden Killer campaign has played an exemplary role in informing construction workers about the dangers posed by exposure to asbestos; recognises construction workers are now at greater risk of dying from asbestos disease and that 4,000 people a year die from asbestos related illness; is alarmed to learn that the latest phase of the Hidden Killer campaign has been cancelled following a 35 per cent. cut in the HSE's budget; and calls on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to reverse this decision and reinstate this lifesaving campaign.","date":"2011-01-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42321","proposer":"10383","edm":"1302","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety Week Of Action Campaign","text":"That this House is alarmed to note that, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), between April 2009 and March 2010, 152 people were fatally injured at work, 26,061 suffered major injuries at work and 1.3 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness believed to be caused or made worse by their current or past work; notes that the actual figures are likely to be much higher, given that these statistics are an underestimate due to reporting inadequacies and that prosecutions and convictions for health and safety breaches were at a record low; is concerned that the current legislative and enforcement framework is failing to protect workers and that the Government's proposals contained in the Young Report,along with the budget cuts of 35 per cent. facing the HSE, not only fail to address the problem but will make things worse;and therefore welcomes the lobby of Parliament organised by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group, comprising theBakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, the Fire Brigades Union, the National Association of Probation Officers, the National Union of Journalists, the National Union of Teachers, the Public and Commercial Services Union, the Prison Officers Association, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, the University and College Union and the United Road Transport Union on 2 March 2011and that group'sHealth and Safety Week of Action between 28 February and 5 March 2011, calling on the Government to tighten legislation and improve enforcement to prevent anymore workplace tragedies.","date":"2011-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42095","proposer":"11923","edm":"1095","session":"2010-12","title":"Chinese Sky Lanterns","text":"That this House notes with concern the damage to property and death or injury to British livestock caused by discarded Chinese sky lanterns; expresses concern that, while high quality lanterns used accordingly to proper instructions are deemed safe, many poor quality lanterns which lack proper health and safety instructions are also readily available; encourages importers to demand 100 per cent. biodegradable lanterns that come with a high quality fuel source from manufacturers; and calls on the Government to continue ensuring that distributors sell the highest quality lanterns with comprehensive operating and safety instructions.","date":"2010-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42083","proposer":"10428","edm":"1092","session":"2010-12","title":"Swimming And The Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Strategy","text":"That this House is aware that threemillion people in the UK swim every week, an experience which helps, amongst others, people with disabilities, and those recovering from injury, improves health and combats obesity; recognises that swimming clubs and connected social groups add significantly to community cohesion through efforts to integrate those in different socio-economic conditions, families, religions and age groups; notes that having the ability to swim is a real life skill which regularly saves the lives of those practising it; further notes statistics which show that, nevertheless on average 400 people in Britain drown every year, and that it is the third most common cause of accidental death amongst children; and calls on the Government at this time of financial restraint to support the cross departmental strategy on Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives, in order to ensure increasing ratio of participation in swimming, through delivering its health and safety agenda at local level.","date":"2010-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"42057","proposer":"10274","edm":"1067","session":"2010-12","title":"Pleural Plaques Payments To Widows","text":"That this House deeply regrets the unreasonable and unjust Government decision to deny compensation to widows of pleural plaques victims who had waited years to receive 5,000 in compensation but who sadly died before the funds were eventually released; believes that these widows played a very important role in sustaining their partners through the overlong struggle for compensation rights; and urges the Government to seek ways to recognise the plight of these widows and to allow the payment to accrue to their next of kin, possibly as an ex-gratia payment on humanitarian grounds.","date":"2010-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41950","proposer":"11534","edm":"961","session":"2010-12","title":"Court Of Appeal Ruling On Mesothelioma Liability (No. 2)","text":"That this House is concerned that the implications of the decision by the Court of Appeal on 8 October 2010 will be that many victims of asbestos-related disease will die without the certainty that their families will be entitled to compensation; agrees thatit is the exposure to asbestos that can lead to the development of fatal diseases such as mesothelioma and that the trigger must therefore be the point of exposure and not, as challenged by the insurance industry, the point the disease develops, which can be many decades later; further agrees with the High Court ruling in 2008 that the insurers who should pay compensation are those who provided cover to the employer at the time of the asbestos exposure; notes this is the latest of many attacks by the insurance industry on compensation for working people who were negligently exposed to deadly asbestos; and calls on the Association of British Insurers to take action against any of its memberswho are challenging the established trigger that is the point of exposure and support the establishment of an Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau.","date":"2010-11-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41818","proposer":"11672","edm":"839","session":"2010-12","title":"Death Of Paul Lee And Prosecution Of Enterprise Inns","text":"That this House condemns the negligence of Enterprise Inns regarding the breach of health and safety regulations at the Aintree Hotel in Liverpool; is appalled that such misconduct led to the tragic and unnecessary death of the licensee, Paul Lee, in November 2007; notes that the company failed to ensure that there was a valid gas safety certificate on the premises, that the fire may not have been serviced since 1979, and that the chimney was completely blocked; further notes that 474 Enterprise Inns pubs did not have valid gas safety certificates; and further notes that this led to a prosecution of Enterprise Inns by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), during which HSE inspector Iain Evans stated that `it is shocking that a major pub chain failed to ensure regular gas safety checks were carried out at more than 400 of its properties and as a result one man has been killed and hundreds of other lives have been put at risk'; and therefore supports the call for the Chief Executive of Enterprise Inns to take moral responsibility and to resign.","date":"2010-10-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41772","proposer":"24963","edm":"806","session":"2010-12","title":"Rescue Of Chilean Miners","text":"That this House notes with great concern the increasing number of mining-related deaths, accidents and major incidents across the world; hopes that the rescue attempt of the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground since 5 August 2010 results in the successful and safe return of the miners to the surface; and wishes the miners, their families and all concerned an expedient and positive rehabilitation.","date":"2010-10-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41757","proposer":"24805","edm":"791","session":"2010-12","title":"Freedom From Fear 2010 Campaign","text":"That this House recognises the excellent work done by employers, trade union, health and safety representatives and inspectors from the Health and Safety Executiveand local authorities to make workplaces safer; notes with regret the latest survey of abuse of shopworkers by the Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers that shows that in the last yearsix per cent. of shopworkers were subjected to violent attack, 37 per cent. were threatened with harm and 70 per cent. were verbally abused; expresses sympathy with allthe victims of attack or injury in the workplace; is concerned to note that the survey also showed that 50 per cent. of the abuse suffered by shopworkers was related to age-restricted sales and dealing with proof of age; acknowledges that no workplace can automatically be assumed to be safe and that therefore all workplacesneed health and safety inspections from time to time to ensure that risks are minimised;and calls on the Government to continue to support the Health andSafety Executive and local authorities to inspect all workplaces to maintain the current record numbers of police and community support officers to continue to protect front-line workers and the public from violence, threats and abuse, and to run high-profile publicity campaigns in support of a no identification- no sale policy and to ensure that young people are aware that it is an offence to attempt to buyalcohol if they areunder 18.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41726","proposer":"24830","edm":"766","session":"2010-12","title":"Nuclear Test Veterans","text":"That this House recognises the sacrifice of conscripted and regular service personnel who were stationed in Australia and Christmas Island in the 1950s and 1960s to support the UK's atomic weapons testing; notes that many of them are suffering serious illness as a consequence; and recalls that its allies have already paid compensation to their ex-service personnel who were similarly exposed to unknown risks as part of that nuclear testing programme.","date":"2010-09-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41728","proposer":"11971","edm":"768","session":"2010-12","title":"Model Sanctuary At London Fashion Week","text":"That this House congratulates the Model Sanctuary, established by Erin O'Connor, on providing a peaceful retreat for models participating in London Fashion Week; recognises that models work in a high-pressure environment which can be extremely stressful, and that a large proportion of models at London Fashion Week are aged between 16 and 18; notes in particular the pressure on models as a result of intense scrutiny of their appearance and body weight; further notes that the Model Sanctuary provides a safe space for them to spend time, as well as access to confidential counselling, nutrition and fitness advice; commends the many students and volunteers who have worked hard to make the Model Sanctuary a welcoming space; and welcomes the Model Sanctuary as one example of an initiative which encourages the promotion of health and wellbeing within the fashion industry and beyond.","date":"2010-09-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41587","proposer":"10383","edm":"630","session":"2010-12","title":"Maximum Working Temperature","text":"That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes that many employees, particularly those working in bakeries, are often subjected to very high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being, with effects ranging from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt; and urges the Government to provide clear and coherent guidelines to employers abouthow to combat heat in the workplace and to introduce a maximum working workplace temperature of 30C (86F) and of 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous work.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41589","proposer":"10383","edm":"632","session":"2010-12","title":"Bakers And Asthma","text":"That this House notes with concern that bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average worker due to exposure to flour and other bakery dusts; believes that every worker has the right to work in a healthy and safe workplace and is extremely alarmed that thousands of bakers could be at risk of developing an incapacitating respiratory condition; urges employers to work with health and safety trades union representatives and the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union to implement appropriate control measures to protect bakers from developing asthma; and further urges the Government to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive has sufficient resources to take the necessary action to prevent work-related illnesses such as bakers' asthma.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41459","proposer":"11823","edm":"506","session":"2010-12","title":"Action Mesothelioma Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the British Lung Foundation's Action Mesothelioma campaign to improve treatment and care for people with asbestos-related chest cancer; notes with concern that a British Lung Foundation survey shows that half of people who have done DIY did not know that asbestos was used as building material as recently as the 1990s; further notes that 42 per cent. of the people who have done DIY still believe that asbestos was used in residential properties but has since been removed; further notes that worryingly 58 per cent. of homeowners surveyed said that they had never received information on how to identify or manage asbestos; recognises that national guidelines are needed in order to ensure that coroners' inquests following a death from mesothelioma are carried out in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the bereaved; and calls on the Government to ensure that the proposals contained in the Coroners and Justice Act lead to effective action to improve the standards of coroners' investigations across England and Wales.","date":"2010-07-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41417","proposer":"10282","edm":"465","session":"2010-12","title":"Firefighter Safety","text":"That this House notes that 16 firefighters have lost their lives at fires since 2003; further notes that, according to the Health and Safety Executive, the rate of injury is higher in the fire and rescue service at 180.1 per 100,000 compared to an all industry average of 105.1; is concerned by the wide variation between fire authorities in the recording and reporting of non-fatal injuries to firefighters; regrets the ongoing absence of a properly resourced national body with responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter deaths and serious injuries; and calls on the Government to commence work with the Health and Safety Executive and other stakeholders to create a body responsible for issuing safety-critical operational guidance resulting from the investigation of any fatality or serious injury to firefighters at work.","date":"2010-07-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41384","proposer":"10383","edm":"441","session":"2010-12","title":"Health And Safety","text":"That this House notes that according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2008-09 1.2 million people were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work, 180 workers were killed at work and 131,895 other workplace injuries were reported; recognises that the real figures are likely to be much higher given that many work-related fatalities are filtered out from the HSE's headline statistics, that the number of occupational disease deaths each year is never published and that ill-health estimates miss entire categories of common occupational diseases and underestimate others; deeply regrets therefore that people are still dying, being seriously injured or made ill simply as a result of carrying out their day to day job often as a result of health and safety failings by employers; further notes the estimated cost of around 30 billion per year to the economy of poor workplace health and safety and that this burden is borne heavily by workers and their families; believes there is no evidence to support cutting back on health and safety regulation but instead that the current system of prevention and enforcement needs bolstering; reaffirms the right of all workers to work in a safe and healthy workplace; and therefore calls on the Government to reject calls for deregulation and instead look to strengthen the current legislative framework and ensure that the Health and Safety Executive is adequately resourced in order to stop more people dying or receiving injuries unnecessarily.","date":"2010-07-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41224","proposer":"12005","edm":"292","session":"2010-12","title":"Us, Canada And Eu Announcement On Looped Blind Cord Safety","text":"That this House welcomes the joint statement by the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, Health Canada and the European Commission Health and Consumers Directorate-General of 15 June 2010 calling for a swift and comprehensive process that concurrently eliminates the risk factors causing deaths and injuries from all types of corded window covering products; believes that deaths in the UK and the wider world as a result of strangulation from looped blind cords is a tragedy that could be avoided; and calls on the Government to work with campaigners and the industry to enact the ambitions of this statement with immediate effect.","date":"2010-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41210","proposer":"10220","edm":"278","session":"2010-12","title":"Bp And Bhopal","text":"That this House notes the US administration's insistence that BP set up an escrow fund of $20 billion to compensate the families of the 11 victims who died in the Deepwater Horizon disaster and to pay the full clean up costs as well as the indirect losses arising to US coastal businesses and livelihoods; recalls the Bhopal Gas tragedy in India where over 15,000 people died and approximately half a million people have suffered serious injury and long-term illness as a result of a leak of methyl isocyanate at the plant of American-owned Union Carbide Corporation and where a total settlement of less than half a billion dollars was made by the company; expresses its profound concern that the victims' recent request to President Obama for the extradition of Union Carbide Corporation CEO, Warren Anderson, has been rebuffed; and urges the US administration to show by its action that the same standards of corporate responsibility that apply to non-US companies in dealing with American citizens apply equally to American companies dealing with non-US citizens, and that the value of a life in India is worth no less than in the United States.","date":"2010-06-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"41034","proposer":"24910","edm":"118","session":"2010-12","title":"Trafigura And Shipping Hazardous Waste To The Ivory Coast","text":"That this House, concerned that due to the start of fresh legal proceedings in the Netherlands on 14 and 17 May 2010 concerning the multinational commodities trading group Trafigura, including allegations that UK nationals and UK firms may have been involved in illegal waste shipments and a subsequent cover-up and that payments were made to truck drivers in return for favourable witness statements and given that this is not being fully reported in the United Kingdom because of the chilling effect of the UK's libel laws, calls on the Government to launch a full inquiry into the allegations against Trafigura and to review the libel laws to ensure that this matter can be reported fully in the UK.","date":"2010-05-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40595","proposer":"11784","edm":"975","session":"2009-10","title":"Asbestos In Schools (No. 2)","text":"That this House is concerned by the recent report of the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association, which highlights systemic failings in the management of asbestos in schools; notes with alarm that around 75 per cent. of schools contain this potentially deadly substance; further notes that at least 178 school teachers have died from the fatal disease mesothelioma, which is contracted from asbestos; welcomes the decision by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to set up a steering group to examine all aspects of risk, management and training for asbestos in schools; and calls on the Government to take further steps to tackle this problem and to ensure that adequate guidance and training is in place for the protection of staff and pupils.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40423","proposer":"11245","edm":"823","session":"2009-10","title":"Control Of Major Accident Hazard Sites","text":"That this House notes with regret the explosion at the Kleen Energy plant in Conneticut on 7 February 2010 resulting in substantial injury and loss of life; expresses concern for the safety of people affected by gas plants, such as Calor Gas on Canvey Island, that are sited in Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) sites; further notes with concern that some operators of COMAH sites have been subjected to prohibition or enforcement notices, demonstrating a failure to adhere to systems put in place to safeguard the community; believes that any new fast-track planning system dealing with nationally significant infrastructure projects must include independent review of local emergency processes and risk factors where COMAH sites are involved; and calls on the Government and the Opposition to commit to a national safe siting policy.","date":"2010-02-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40268","proposer":"12005","edm":"680","session":"2009-10","title":"Government Policy On Looped Blind Cord Safety","text":"That this House notes with disappointment the Government's refusal to respond formally to the recommendations made by Sheriff Mackie in May 2009 as a result of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the tragic death of Muireann McLaughlin; further notes that Sheriff Mackie's recommendations were designed to increase safety levels in the operation of blinds and curtains and as a result reduce deaths by strangulation with operating cords; believes that an industry-driven solution has not been delivered and that Government action is necessary to protect the lives of young children; and calls on the Government to review its decision and engage in a constructive and meaningful manner on this life and death issue.","date":"2010-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40216","proposer":"11963","edm":"632","session":"2009-10","title":"Work-Related Deaths","text":"That this House welcomes statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which indicate that the number of work-related deaths fell to a record low in 2008-09; expresses its concern, however, that the figures used by the HSE do not reflect the true number of people killed by work-related activity as they do not include all those killed by work-related incidents which are not reported to the HSE but to other authorities, and does not include the many thousands who die from illness caused by poor working conditions; estimates that in 2008-09 as many as 1,500 people may have died from work-related incidents and a further 50,000 from work-related illness; believes it is vital for an informed debate that the public are made aware of the accurate number of deaths at work; and calls on the Government to publish annually the total number of work-related deaths and not just those covered by the HSE.","date":"2010-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40217","proposer":"11963","edm":"633","session":"2009-10","title":"Support For Families Of Victims Of Corporate Manslaughter","text":"That this House welcomes the new national helpline for the families of victims of murder and manslaughter; notes that families will be referred to this helpline via Victim Support or family liaison officers; further notes that families of victims of corporate manslaughter do not have access to either Victim Support or family liaison officers; expresses its concern that such families may therefore experience difficulties in accessing this helpline; and calls on the Government to look at ways to ensure that such families have access to this service.","date":"2010-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40181","proposer":"10521","edm":"602","session":"2009-10","title":"Creating A Healthier UK Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's new manifesto, titled Creating a Healthier UK plc, promoting a sensible and forward-thinking approach to improving the nation's health and wellbeing; and calls on the Government and all political parties to co-operate with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and others to effect appropriate changes and to help the UK create a risk-intelligent society.","date":"2010-01-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40144","proposer":"10428","edm":"565","session":"2009-10","title":"Prescribed Diseases And The Use Of Pneumatic Percussion Tools","text":"That this House is aware that UK legislation covering access to industrial injuries disablement benefits and appropriate compensation for noise-induced hearing loss is currently woefully inadequate, a factor proven by the exemption from valid claims of thousands of workers whose health has been damaged directly because of their employers use of pneumatic percussion tools to drill stone or other solid substances other than in the severely restricted confines of a quarry, underground coalmine, shaft or tunnelling works; believes such blatantly unfair legal discrimination should not be countenanced; and calls on the Government immediately to take all necessary steps to bring forward amendments to the Social Security Contribution and Benefits Act 1992 and thereafter accordingly to bring forward all necessary changes to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) Prescribed Diseases Regulations.","date":"2010-01-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40063","proposer":"10383","edm":"491","session":"2009-10","title":"Maximum Workplace Temperature","text":"That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature, there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes the many employees, particularly those working in bakeries, are often subjected to very high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being with effects ranging from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt; and urges the Government to provide clear and coherent guidelines to employers about how to combat heat in the workplace, and to introduce a maximum working workplace temperature of 30C (86F) and of 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous work.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"40073","proposer":"10383","edm":"501","session":"2009-10","title":"Workers' Memorial Day","text":"That this House recognises that Workers' Memorial Day is an internationally recognised day, 28 April, on which workers and trades unionists conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to commemorate those who have died, been seriously injured, or made seriously ill by their work diseases; notes with regret that according to the Health and Safety Executive during 2008-09 1.2 million people were suffering from a long-standing or new case of illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work, 180 workers were killed at work, and thousands of people died of mesothelioma and other occupational cancers and lung diseases; reaffirms the right of all workers to work in a safe and healthy workplace; and calls on the Government to officially recognise Workers' Memorial Day as a day of national remembrance.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39886","proposer":"12005","edm":"326","session":"2009-10","title":"National House-Building Council Health And Safety Awards 2010","text":"That this House welcomes the National House-building Council (NHBC), the UK house-building standard setter and warranty provider, establishing the new health and safety awards which recognise and promote best on-site health and safety practice in the house-building sector; notes that on average there are 15 fatalities on Britain's house-building sites each year; further notes that history shows that as the UK emerges from recession, the number of on-site accidents in the house-building sector rises; recognises that the NHBC award scheme is the only scheme of its kind for house-builders; commends builders who invest in on-site health and safety and who provide a safe working environment; and hopes that their efforts will be recognised by these awards.","date":"2009-12-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39853","proposer":"11324","edm":"293","session":"2009-10","title":"Bisphenol A And Baby Bottles","text":"That this House notes that baby bottles made using the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) are still being sold in the UK despite being withdrawn in Canada and the US; further notes that hundreds of studies and evaluations published in peer-reviewed medical journals have raised consistent and compelling concerns about the potential impact of low level exposure of this chemical; further notes that the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal in March 2009 published a letter from 36 of the world's leading scientific experts on BPA, criticising the European Food Safety Authority for relying predominantly on two outdated studies funded by the chemicals industry and saying that its decisions based on this logic are misguided and will result in continued risk to public health from exposure to BPA; further notes that babies in their first year have not fully developed the ability to clear BPA from their bodies as quickly as adults; welcomes the No More BPA campaign led by Breast Cancer UK and whose call is backed by NCT, formerly the National Childbirth Trust, UNISON, the Women's Environmental Network, the Cancer Prevention and Education Society and CHEM Trust; and urges the Government to introduce regulations to end the use of BPA in baby bottles sold in the UK.","date":"2009-11-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39809","proposer":"10715","edm":"266","session":"2009-10","title":"Nuclear Test Veterans","text":"That this House notes that servicemen involved in the British nuclear weapons tests programme in the Pacific and Australia in the 1950s and 1960s have subsequently attributed cases of ill-health to their exposure to radiation during and after the tests; welcomes the conclusions of the cross-party inquiry into nuclear test veterans chaired by the hon. Member for Billericay and the former hon. Member for Norwich North; believes that far greater recognition of this problem and co-operation with veterans is required from the Ministry of Defence; notes the Government's promise to undertake a health analysis on veterans' offspring, madeon 22October 2008 to the hon. Member for Billericay; further notes the promise made by the Government in April 2009 to follow up last year's New Zealand chromosome study on veterans, with results delivered to a reasonable timescale; acknowledges that since these promises were given very little progress has been made in determining the design, parameters and terms of reference of these studies; and therefore calls on the Government to speed up the process and thereby honour its duty of care towards this loyal and dignified group of servicemen and their families.","date":"2009-11-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39783","proposer":"10569","edm":"240","session":"2009-10","title":"Payments For Workers Damaged By Vaccines","text":"That this House notes with concern the serious adverse reactions that some adults have suffered following receipt of the hepatitis B and other vaccines, which they were required to have as a condition of their employment; further notes that such adults include doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical technicians and other health service personnel together with specialist civil servants, social workers, prison officers, refuse collectors and other public sector workers; recognises the devastating effect such adverse reactions can have on the long-term health of the individual, in some cases leading to debilitation and early retirement and a significant loss of income; further notes that there is no clear and transparent system of support for such adults as they are not eligible to make a claim under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 and often have to fight for industrial disablement benefit; acknowledges that in the United States 146 hepatitis cases have been fully compensated out of 578 applicants; and calls on the Government to include all occupational vaccines on the approved list under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979, to provide for vaccine damage under the Industrial Injuries Scheme or establish a new scheme covering occupational vaccines for adults which includes all single and multiple vaccines and their component parts, and for the chosen scheme to protect all workers including those in training.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39785","proposer":"10105","edm":"242","session":"2009-10","title":"Rights Of Those With Pleural Plaques","text":"That this House accepts expert evidence that pleural plaques represent a change to the anatomy of the sufferer evidenced by the abnormal scarring caused by the permanent physical penetration of asbestos fibres; believes the Law Lords ruling that physiological damage as well as anatomical damage is necessary for an injury to constitute actionable damage is clearly inconsistent with other areas of personal injury; notes that many sufferers of the condition would receive compensation if the scarring was on the outside of the body; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to restore the status quo ante to allay the strong sense of injustice felt by sufferers who have sustained asbestos exposure through their employers' negligence and have been unable to proceed with a court action since the Law Lords decision of October 2007.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39727","proposer":"11923","edm":"187","session":"2009-10","title":"Bhopal Disaster","text":"That this House remembers with sadness and outrage the tragedy that took place in Bhopal, India, resulting from the leak of thousands of tonnes of chemicals in December 1984; admonishes the Indian government for its negligence in failing to clean up the chemical waste following the disaster; highlights with great sadness the thousands of lives lost directly after the leak and in the 20 years after and the 100,000 people continuing to suffer from health problems from contaminated water supplies and daily exposure to chemicals; and calls on the Indian government to act immediately to end this injustice and clean up the area so that local people can be free from this suffering and distress.","date":"2009-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39730","proposer":"10608","edm":"190","session":"2009-10","title":"Dow Chemicals And The Bhopal Disaster","text":"That this House regrets that a quarter of a century after the world's worst industrial massacre, the people of Bhopal remain in an endless cycle of suffering that has cast them in a perpetual state of victimhood and that, 25 years on, Dow Chemicals continues to express contempt for the rule of law by refusing to produce the prime accused in court or abide by the universal obligation of the polluter pays principle thereby denying those grievously harmed the remotest prospect of natural justice; further notes that as a direct consequence 25,000 people are daily, exposed to water heavily contaminated with volatile organic chemicals known to cause cancer, organ damage and birth deformities arising in a third generation of Bhopal victims; believes that ethical corporate governance is a prerequisite of international commerce today and until it is made to be accountable Dow Chemicals' culpable neglect of Bhopal creates a legacy of corporate impunity; and urges the EU to proactively engage the government of India through its Empowered Commission to set the agenda for a site contamination assessment of the former Union Carbide Corporation site in Bhopal City as a prelude to brokering an agreement to clean up the site 25 years after the disaster.","date":"2009-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39637","proposer":"10777","edm":"100","session":"2009-10","title":"Health And Safety (S.i., 2009, No. 1927)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Major Accident Off-Site Emergency Plan (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I,. No. 1927), dated 16 July 2009, a copy of which was laid before this House on 21 July, in the previous Session of Parliament, be annulled.","date":"2009-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39520","proposer":"10105","edm":"2258","session":"2008-09","title":"Restoring The Rights Of Pleural Plaque Sufferers","text":"That this House accepts expert evidence that pleural plaques represent a change to the anatomy of the sufferer evidenced by the abnormal scarring caused by the permanent physical penetration of asbestos fibres; believes the Law Lords ruling that physiological damage as well as anatomical damage is necessary for an injury to constitute actionable damage is clearly inconsistent with other areas of personal injury; notes that many sufferers of the condition would receive compensation if the scarring was on the outside of the body; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to restore the status quo ante to allay the strong sense of injustice felt by sufferers who have sustained asbestos exposure through their employers' negligence and have been unable to proceed with a court action since the Law Lords decision of October 2007.","date":"2009-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39454","proposer":"11784","edm":"2194","session":"2008-09","title":"Asbestos Compensation Fund","text":"That this House welcomes the decision by the London Pensions Fund Authority to set up an \u00a385 million asbestos compensation fund; notes the medical warnings that asbestos claims will double in the next decade; further notes the devastating effects of asbestos-related illnesses; and urges other pension fund authorities to set up similar compensation funds.","date":"2009-10-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39408","proposer":"11784","edm":"2158","session":"2008-09","title":"Dianne Wilmore And Court Of Appeal","text":"That this House is extremely saddened by the death of Dianne Willmore from mesothelioma; notes the outcome of her case as heard in the Civil Court of Appeal on 14 October 2009; welcomes this landmark ruling which will enable pupils exposed to asbestos whilst at school to be awarded damages from negligent councils should they contract mesothelioma; regrets that her death this morning renders the decision too late to improve her own life; and looks forward to further victims of mesothelioma being able to use Dianne's case as a basis for redress in the future.","date":"2009-10-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39369","proposer":"10105","edm":"2135","session":"2008-09","title":"British Safety Council Work With Young People","text":"That this House applauds the work of the British Safety Council with 14 to 19 year olds in full-time education; and recognises its enormous effort over the last two years in helping 40,000 young people to gain an accredited health and safety qualification and in consequence raising their awareness of workplace dangers before they embark on work experience or their first job.","date":"2009-10-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39346","proposer":"10105","edm":"2114","session":"2008-09","title":"Pleural Plaques Protest 28 October 2009 (No. 2)","text":"That this House is aware that asbestos victims around the country were affronted by the 2007 Law Lords' judgement that people suffering with pleural plaques should no longer be compensated; and notes that on 28 October 2009 there will be a combined Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, GMB Unite, Unison, TUC and Asbestos Groups' lobby of Parliament to urge the Secretary of State for Justice to restore the rights of victims to seek compensation in the courts.","date":"2009-10-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39325","proposer":"10105","edm":"2094","session":"2008-09","title":"Pleural Plaques Protest 28 October 2009","text":"That this House is aware that asbestos victims around the country were affronted by the disgraceful 2007 Law Lords' judgement that people suffering with pleural plaques should no longer be compensated and notes that on 28 October 2009 there will be a combined Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, Unite, Unison, TUC and Asbestos Groups' lobby of Parliament to urge the Secretary of State for Justice to restore the rights of victims to seek compensation in the courts.","date":"2009-10-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39160","proposer":"11093","edm":"1934","session":"2008-09","title":"WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY (No. 4)","text":"That this House notes a desire to remember those who are injured or killed in the workplace; supports measures that reduce the number of workplace fatalities and campaigns which advance improved working conditions for the living; recognises substantial union support for an official commemoration of workplace injuries and fatalities; notes that the Workers' Memorial Day, officially celebrated around the world on 28 April, is a major event on the trade union calendar; notes that it provides an opportunity to reflect on workplace illness, injury, death and their causes; and calls on the Government to recognise Workers' Memorial Day as a public holiday.","date":"2009-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39107","proposer":"10105","edm":"1886","session":"2008-09","title":"Safety And Health In Construction","text":"That this House considers that the Donaghy report on the construction industry, entitled One Death is Too Many, sets out in its 28 recommendations the necessary structure required to improve health and safety; and calls on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to accept and implement the report's recommendations as the basis for putting in place a durable health and safety architecture for the industry to drive down numbers of fatal accidents and serious injuries.","date":"2009-07-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"39111","proposer":"10028","edm":"1890","session":"2008-09","title":"ARMLEY ASBESTOS DRAMA 'DUST' AND ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASES","text":"That this House congratulates the playwright Kenneth Yates, Alex Chisholm the director and the cast of Dust, a dramatisation at the West Yorkshire Playhouse of June Hancock's legal struggle to prove that the JW Roberts' asbestos factory in Armley caused asbestos pollution in the neighbourhood, leaving a deadly local legacy of hundreds of mesothelioma victims; notes that the drama using the trial transcripts, testimonies and interviews brilliantly captures a story that is still not played out; and urges the Department of Health to devote more research resources to tackling mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.","date":"2009-07-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38897","proposer":"10677","edm":"1705","session":"2008-09","title":"Collection Of Accident And Injury Data","text":"That this House notes the importance of collecting injury data in identifying trends and aiding accident prevention; further notes the clear demand for such data, as shown by the 40 per cent. increase in accessing old data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website in the last year; regrets that Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance Systems stopped collecting such data in 2002; and calls on the Government to establish a co-ordinated UK-wide approach to the collection of accident and injury data in order to prevent injuries in the future.","date":"2009-06-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38831","proposer":"10569","edm":"1646","session":"2008-09","title":"Payments For Workers Damaged By Vaccines","text":"That this House notes with concern the serious adverse reactions that some adults have suffered following receipt of the hepatitis B and other vaccines, which they were required to have as a condition of their employment; further notes that such adults include doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical technicians and other health service personnel together with specialist civil servants, social workers, prison officers, refuse collectors and other public sector workers; recognises the devastating effect such adverse reactions can have on the long-term health of the individual, in some cases leading to debilitation and early retirement and a significant loss of income; further notes that there is no clear and transparent system of support for such adults as they are not eligible to make a claim under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 and often have to fight for industrial disablement benefits: acknowledges that in the United States 146 hepatitis cases have been fully compensated out of 578 applicants; and calls on the Government to include all occupational vaccines on the approved list under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979, to provide for vaccine damage under the Industrial Injuries Scheme or establish a new scheme covering occupational vaccines for adults which includes all single and multiple vaccines and their component parts, and for the chosen scheme to protect all workers including those in training.","date":"2009-06-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38788","proposer":"10383","edm":"1610","session":"2008-09","title":"BAKERS' ASTHMA","text":"That this House notes with concern that bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average worker due to exposure to flour and other bakery dusts; believes that every worker has the right to work in a healthy and safe workplace and is extremely alarmed that thousands of bakers could be at risk of developing an incapacitating respiratory condition; urges employers to work with health and safety trades union representatives and the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union to implement appropriate control measures to protect bakers from developing asthma; and further urges the Government to consider reducing the maximum exposure limit to flour and to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive has sufficient resources to take the necessary action to prevent work-related illnesses such as bakers' asthma.","date":"2009-06-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38700","proposer":"11450","edm":"1530","session":"2008-09","title":"Furniture And Fire Safety Guide","text":"That this House welcomes the launch of the British Furniture Confederation's Guide to the Fire Safety of Furniture and Furnishings in the Home; recognises that the UK flammability regulations have been in existence for over 20 years and in 2000 it was estimated that they had saved up to 1,860 lives since their introduction; notes the importance of the new guide in clarifying and explaining the existing regulations to account for recent precedents and changes; and further notes the high quality and standard of British furniture.","date":"2009-05-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38568","proposer":"10106","edm":"1407","session":"2008-09","title":"Potters Bar Crash Seventh Anniversary","text":"That this House notes that 10 May 2009 marks the seventh anniversary of the Potters Bar derailment; and expresses its regret that no form of public inquiry has yet taken place despite the clearly expressed wishes of surviving victims and bereaved families for such an inquiry to be held.","date":"2009-04-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38514","proposer":"10105","edm":"1359","session":"2008-09","title":"WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY (NO. 2)","text":"That this House notes that Tuesday 28 April is International Workers' Memorial Day; joins in remembering those who died as a result of work; calls on the Government to take measures to reduce the death toll caused by work by increasing resources for the prevention of ill-health and injury in the workplace; and welcomes the Government's consultation on official recognition for Workers' Memorial Day.","date":"2009-04-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38325","proposer":"11784","edm":"1204","session":"2008-09","title":"Asbestos In Schools","text":"That this House welcomed the opportunity to debate the issue of asbestos in schools in Westminster Hall; notes the fatal effect that exposure to asbestos continues to have on pupils and teachers exposed to asbestos fibres in school buildings; further notes that the incidence of mesothelioma is rising, with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers citing at least 400 members of the teaching profession who have been exposed to asbestos, recognises that 75 per cent. of all schools across the country have asbestos present in one form or another; notes that in the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland clear policies have been adopted in relation to asbestos in school buildings; calls upon the Government to carry out a confidential national survey of schools, followed by funding from the Department of Children, Schools and Families for any school identified during the survey as needing remedial work; further calls on the Government to implement a policy of replacing all asbestos containing materials in schools as part of a national strategy with clear targets in order to provide safe environments for the nation's pupils to succeed; and welcomes the Government's concession that proper training needs to be provided to all head teachers and school managers regarding their current responsibilities in this area.","date":"2009-03-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38301","proposer":"10105","edm":"1181","session":"2008-09","title":"Pleural Plaques (No. 2)","text":"That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's recent statement that an announcement will be made soon in relation to the Government's response to the consultation on pleural plaques and the proposed action that will deliver justice to sufferers; recognises that victims who suffer with the condition caused by negligent exposure to asbestos have waited long enough for justice; and believes that the announcement should include the principle of establishing liability following a documented diagnosis to provide the basis for a settlement should there be the development of a fatal asbestos disease.","date":"2009-03-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38170","proposer":"10169","edm":"1066","session":"2008-09","title":"EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE BUREAU BILL","text":"That this House welcomes the Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau Bill as a long overdue reform; believes that it will provide the necessary mechanism to ensure compensation for employees who suffer injury, illness or disease as a consequence of the acts or omissions of a negligent, but uninsured employer, or an employer who has ceased trading and whose insurers cannot be traced; notes that the provisions of the Bill would particularly benefit sufferers of diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, which are often diagnosed long after the negligent response to harm; and urges all hon. Members and the Government to give the Bill a second reading on 13 March 2009 and a fast passage through committee.","date":"2009-03-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38130","proposer":"10436","edm":"1032","session":"2008-09","title":"WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY (No. 2)","text":"That this House recognises that nineteen nations now recognise and commemorate 28 April as International Workers' Memorial Day, and that the day is already supported by ceremonies and services in many towns in the United Kingdom; acknowledges the sad fact that last year there were 2,200,000 deaths and injuries at work across the world, while in Great Britain 241 workers were killed, 136,771 workers were injured at work and 34 million working days were lost, most of them due to work related ill-health, the rest due to work-place injury, constituting a tragic and unacceptably high toll on the multitude who labour; expresses its confidence that such a commemoration day will not only highlight the need for greater safety and protection at work but will also pay tribute to all who work, as well as the large numbers of those who have suffered death or injury in the course of their work; and therefore urges the Government to recognise 28 April as Workers' Memorial Day in Britain as the nation's annual tribute to the nobility of labour.","date":"2009-03-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"38150","proposer":"10105","edm":"1052","session":"2008-09","title":"The Daily Mirror Asbestos Time Bomb Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Daily Mirror Time Bomb Campaign and supports the paper's call for the reintroduction of compensation for the victims of pleural plaques, the establishment of a centre for asbestos-related diseases to find better treatments, the introduction of an employers' liability insurance bureau for victims who cannot trace their employer or their insurer, the publication of a register of all asbestos surveys carried out on public buildings and more resources for the Health and Safety Executive in order to meet its target for inspecting asbestos removal work.","date":"2009-03-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37955","proposer":"10105","edm":"878","session":"2008-09","title":"Work Of Mrs Nancy Tait Mbe","text":"That this House pays tribute to the work of the late Mrs Nancy Tait who died on 13 February 2009; notes that she worked with enormous energy for 40 years to raise awareness about diseases associated with asbestos exposure; and further notes that her tenacious representation of the families of asbestos victims is renowned and that her courteous determination made her a formidable campaigner for justice for asbestos victims.","date":"2009-02-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37956","proposer":"10105","edm":"879","session":"2008-09","title":"Action Mesothelioma 2009 Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Action Mesothelioma campaign to improve treatment and conditions for people with the asbestos-related chest cancer; further welcomes the positive assessment that has been made by many patients of their medical care in the British Lung Foundation's survey of people affected by mesothelioma; notes with concern that many patients say they have not received guidance in relation to end of life care or been given the option to take part in medical trials; further notes the results of a British Lung Foundation audit of cancer networks, which shows the the Mesothelioma Framework has a positive impact on cancer networks throughout England; further notes with concern that many clinicians and nurses do not have the time or resources fully to implement this guidance; recognises that national guidelines are needed in order to ensure that coroners' inquiries following a death from mesothelioma are carried out in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the bereaved; and calls on the Government to ensure that the proposals contained in the Coroners and Justice Bill will lead to effective action to improve the standards of coroners' investigations across England and Wales.","date":"2009-02-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37836","proposer":"11923","edm":"776","session":"2008-09","title":"Morecambe Bay Deaths","text":"That this House recognises that 5 February 2009 was the fifth anniversary of the Morecambe Bay tragedy, which claimed the lives of 23 Chinese cockle pickers on the Bay; expresses concern that the Crown Estate is currently withholding consent for Fisheries Orders, including one for Morecambe Bay; accepts that Fisheries Orders are an essential tool for the management of shellfish fisheries like Morecambe Bay; believes that Fisheries Orders provide an assurance that the fisheries are exploited safely; and calls on the Crown Estate to drop its opposition to new Fisheries Orders before any further tragedy occurs and for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to include provisions in the Marine Bill to remove the right of the Crown Estate to veto Fisheries Orders.","date":"2009-02-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37853","proposer":"10548","edm":"793","session":"2008-09","title":"Fifth Anniversary Of Tebay Rail Incident","text":"That this House remembers that 15 February 2009 is the five year anniversary of the tragic killing of four rail workers at Tebay who were struck by a runaway trailer loaded with railway ballast, which also injured and traumatised other rail workers; expresses sympathy with their families, colleagues and the local community; is alarmed that since Tebay there have been at least a further 16 runaways on the rail network, and that runaways have the potential to kill, injure and traumatise rail workers and passengers alike; believes that the rail industry should do everything in its power to minimise the risk of runaways and introduce better protections; notes with concern the slow pace in introducing such protections and the low priority this work seems to have with Network Rail; and calls on Network Rail urgently to address this continued threat to the safety of passengers and rail workers.","date":"2009-02-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37748","proposer":"10383","edm":"695","session":"2008-09","title":"WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY","text":"That this House recognises that Workers' Memorial Day is an internationally recognised day, 28 April, on which workers and trades unionists conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to commemorate those who have died, been seriously injured, or made seriously ill by their work diseases; notes with regret that according to the UK Health and Safety Executive during 2007-08 2.1 million people were suffering from a long-standing or new case of illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work, 229 workers were killed at work, that thousands of people died of mesothelioma and other occupational cancers and lung diseases, and that 299,000 reportable injuries at work occurred; reaffirms the right of all workers to work in a safe and healthy workplace; and calls on the Government to officially recognise Workers' Memorial Day as a day of national remembrance.","date":"2009-02-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37737","proposer":"10169","edm":"651A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Evening Chronicle Campaign On Pleural Plaques","text":"after `restored;', insert `supports the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Hendon, listed for Second Reading on Friday 24 April; and urges all hon. Members to attend to support this Bill'.","date":"2009-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37701","proposer":"10274","edm":"651","session":"2008-09","title":"Evening Chronicle Campaign On Pleural Plaques","text":"That this House warmly endorses the campaign by the respected Newcastle Evening Chronicle to urge the Government to end the compensation scandal which left a forgotten generation facing a bleak future following the House of Lords ruling which overturned a decades-old right for working folk to be compensated for industrial diseases; notes that this has left hundreds of desperately ill former workers suffering from the debilitating lung condition pleural plaques who are now not entitled to a penny in redress; further endorses the view of Ian McFall, head of asbestos policy at Thompsons Solicitors, that thousands of people in the North East negligently exposed to asbestos, have suffered harm and deserve to have their concerns recognised; joins with the Chronicle in calling on the Government to overturn the ruling and give sufferers of the asbestos-linked condition the help they deserve; urges support for the Chronicle's campaign calling for the right to compensation to be restored; and urges the Government to conclude its consultation process on this matter speedily.","date":"2009-02-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37665","proposer":"10437","edm":"619","session":"2008-09","title":"Health And Safety (Offences) Act 2008","text":"That this House notes that each of the 229 workplace deaths in 2008 was a personal tragedy and that the 299,000 injuries at work represent a wholly unacceptable toll; welcomes the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health event on 20 January 2009 to discuss the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 which received Royal Assent on 16 October 2008; recognises that the Act sends an important message to those who break the law, enabling sentences to be set at a level more commensurate with the severity of the offence and to deter those employers who may not otherwise take their health and safety management responsibilities seriously; and urges all hon. Members to support the Act, seeking to help prevent needless work-related injury, ill-health and death for employees and members of the public and to ensure that health and safety offences are treated as seriously as other breaches.","date":"2009-01-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37506","proposer":"10288","edm":"482","session":"2008-09","title":"Maximum Workplace Temperature","text":"That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature, there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes that many employees, particularly those working in bakeries, are often subjected to very high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being with effects ranging from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt; and urges the Government to provide clear and coherent guidelines to employers about how to combat heat in the workplace, and to introduce a maximum working workplace temperature of 30C (86F) and of 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous work.","date":"2009-01-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37445","proposer":"10428","edm":"425","session":"2008-09","title":"Prescribed Diseases And The Use Of Pneumatic Percussion Tools","text":"That this House is aware that UK legislation covering access to industrial injuries disablement benefits and appropriate compensation for noise induced hearing loss is currently woefully inadequate, a factor proven by the exemption from valid claims of thousands of workers whose health has been damaged directly because of their employer's use of pneumatic percussion tools to drill stone or other solid substances other than in the severely restricted confines of a quarry, underground coalmine, shaft or tunnelling works; believes such blatantly unfair legal discrimination should not be countenanced; and calls upon the Government immediately to take all necessary steps to bring forward amendments to the Social Security Contribution and Benefits Act 1992 and thereafter accordingly to bring forward all necessary changes to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) Prescribed Diseases Regulations.","date":"2009-01-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37411","proposer":"10597","edm":"395","session":"2008-09","title":"Control Of Dust And Emissions From Construction And Demolition Sites","text":"That this House notes that poor air quality is currently estimated to reduce the life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of seven to eight months and impacts particularly on children, the elderly and those in poor health; notes that emissions from demolition and construction sites can be significant contributors to poor air quality in local areas; notes with concern the delay in implementing measures to reduce these emissions at major construction projects, including those for the Olympics; and calls on all major construction projects, including those for the Olympics, to ensure that the most polluting plant used on site is fitted with suitable pollution control technology in line with the best practice guidance on The Control of Dust and Emissions from Construction and Demolition.","date":"2009-01-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"37166","proposer":"10169","edm":"174","session":"2008-09","title":"Firefighter Safety","text":"That this House notes the recent increased number of firefighter deaths highlighted in the Fire Brigades Union report In the Line of Duty; further notes the lack of safety-critical operational guidance for fire authorities highlighted in that report, and the absence of a properly resourced national body with overall responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter deaths and other serious incidents; and calls for work to be commenced with stakeholders leading to the creation of such a body with responsibility for developing and agreeing safety-critical operational guidance arising from those investigations.","date":"2008-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36896","proposer":"11759","edm":"2489","session":"2007-08","title":"Firefighter Safety And Data Collection","text":"That this House notes with profound gratitude the selfless commitment of firefighters to their role, often in very stressful and dangerous circumstances; further notes the increased number of firefighter deaths in recent years, as highlighted in the Fire Brigades' Union report, In the Line of Duty; further notes the lack of safety-critical operational guidance for fire authorities highlighted in that report, and the deficiency of data collection in regard to firefighter deaths and other serious incidents; and therefore calls for greater clarity and standardisation in the recording and investigation of firefighter fatalities and injuries and for more comprehensive safety guidance for fire authorities.","date":"2008-11-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36836","proposer":"10586","edm":"2436","session":"2007-08","title":"EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY (COMPULSORY) INSURANCE DATABASE AND INSURANCE BUREAU OF LAST RESORT","text":"That this House recognises the efforts of the Association of British Insurers and the Government to improve the success rate of the voluntary code of practice for tracing employers' liability insurers; notes that, according to latest figures, there are still around 5,000 cases a year where these traces fail to produce a successful result; is deeply concerned that many of these failed traces will prevent people with diseases such as mesothelioma from claiming compensation; further notes that deaths in England from mesothelioma continue to increase; and calls on the Government to establish a compulsory central electronic database for employers' liability insurance policies, supported by a special fund to act as insurer of last resort for those people who cannot trace historic policies.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36756","proposer":"13712","edm":"2369","session":"2007-08","title":"COMPENSATION FOR SUFFERERS OF MINER'S KNEE","text":"That this House recognises the chronic condition known as Miner's Knee, affecting thousands of miners; expresses concern that sufferers experience pain, swelling, clicking and locking of the knee as a result of repetitive work under cramped and restrictive conditions; further notes that many miners spent up to six hours a day crawling in an area of no less than three feet high; recognises that many miners have made claims for compensation; praises the efforts of the National Union of Mineworkers for providing funding for litigation cases; and calls on the Government to consider recognising the condition and providing compensation for miners for the sacrifices they have made.","date":"2008-10-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36566","proposer":"11784","edm":"2217","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Asbestos Overseas","text":"That this House notes with concern the continued use of asbestos in the Third World; further notes that work with asbestos in the United Kingdom is banned under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; recalls the consequences in Rochdale and elsewhere in the UK where asbestos was used or produced for the workers of Turner Brothers, whose machinery is now in use in the Third World; is shocked that the human rights of workers to health and to life are clearly being violated; and calls on the Government to work with the International Labour Organisation to ensure the implementation of the Convention Concerning Safety in the Use of Asbestos 1986 and the United Nations Environment Programme regarding the Stockholm Convention on Persistent and Organic Pollutants, a programme which has been repeatedly devalued by countries such as Canada and Russia, and further, to work towards a total ban on the use of asbestos.","date":"2008-10-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36558","proposer":"10313","edm":"2209","session":"2007-08","title":"Freedom From Fear Campaign (No. 2)","text":"That this House congratulates the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) on its groundbreaking Freedom from Fear campaign, which seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers; notes with concern that two thirds of shop staff have been abused in the last year and nearly 10 per cent. have suffered physical assault, with the major cause of assaults being trolley rage by abusive customers; requests hon. Members to support Usdaw's Respect for Shopworkers Week on 3rd to 7th November, which asks customers to `keep your cool at Christmas'; and urges all hon. Members to help retailers and their staff to call upon the support of local police and of anti-social behaviour units to tackle violent offenders and persistent abusers.","date":"2008-10-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36530","proposer":"10552","edm":"2179","session":"2007-08","title":"Safety Regulations For School Buses","text":"That this House notes with great sadness the recent deaths in Aberdeenshire of two secondary school pupils, who were killed in separate incidents while alighting from their school bus; expresses its sympathy with the friends and families of the victims; is concerned that no statutory safety regulations exist to prevent other vehicles from overtaking stationary school buses; notes that other countries have such legislation, including the US and Canada; recognises the increasing sense of concern shown by parents and teachers for the safety of pupils travelling by school transport; supports clearer demarcation of school buses; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to review the situation and consider introducing legislation to make it illegal to overtake a stationary school bus which is picking up or dropping off pupils.","date":"2008-10-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36513","proposer":"11522","edm":"2163","session":"2007-08","title":"Bisphenol","text":"That this House calls upon the Government to follow the example set by Canada in declaring bisphenol A a toxic chemical requiring determined action to limit human and environmental exposures; and notes with concern Exeter University's research on this chemical, commonly used in plastic containers, cans and dentistry, showing higher heart disease, diabetes risks and liver enzymes arising from concentrations of the chemical in the body.","date":"2008-10-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36397","proposer":"10586","edm":"2055","session":"2007-08","title":"Environmentally Friendly Flame Retardants","text":"That this House welcomes the recent European Court of Justice ruling to overturn the exemption granted to the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethers (Deca-BDE) under the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment; notes with concern the research into Deca-BDE, which has found that it can bio-accumulate in the bodies of animals and degrade into toxic and carcinogenic forms in the environment; further notes the Swedish Chemicals Agency report in November 2004, which found that there were indications that the brominated flame retardant Deca-BDE could interfere with the development of the brain and has been found in human breast milk; consequently calls on the Government to ensure that the ban on Deca-BDE is extended to cover not only electronics, but also medical devices and textiles when this legislation is reviewed towards the end of 2008; and further calls on the Government as the environmental rapporteur to make a commitment to encourage the use of halogen-free flame retardants in the United Kingdom.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36374","proposer":"11656","edm":"1939A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Monkey Puzzle Tree In Swansea","text":"at end add `and calls on Liberal Democrat-led Islington Council, which passed a motion on 26th June 2008, claiming that `we all love the Borough's trees', to appeal to their colleagues in Swansea to see sense and to save the monkey puzzle.'.","date":"2008-07-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36343","proposer":"10586","edm":"2010","session":"2007-08","title":"EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY COMPULSORY INSURANCE","text":"That this House expresses its profound disappointment at the Government's decision to repeal the regulation requiring employers' liability compulsory insurance policies to be retained for 40 years; notes that there is no reliable mechanism for ensuring the preservation of insurance policies if a company ceases trading; is deeply concerned at the impact that this will have on workers suffering from industrial diseases such as mesothelioma who will be unable to obtain legally awarded damages in the future because they will not be able to trace their employers' liability insurance policies; and calls on the Government to establish a central electronic database for the compulsory recording of all employers' liability insurance policies before the repeal of regulation 4(4) of the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998.","date":"2008-07-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36279","proposer":"10174","edm":"1956","session":"2007-08","title":"Piper Alpha Charitable Trust","text":"That this House recalls with deep sadness the deaths of 167 workers on the Piper Alpha oil rig on 6th July 1988; notes the bravery and dedication of survivors, rescue teams, medical and emergency staff involved; and calls upon the Government and the off-shore oil and gas industry to support the creation of a substantial charitable trust which will further honour the memory of the victims and individuals who work in this challenging sector by providing scholarships to scientists, technologists and other experts who strive to improve the health, safety and effectiveness of the sector.","date":"2008-07-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36262","proposer":"10096","edm":"1939","session":"2007-08","title":"Monkey Puzzle Tree In Swansea","text":"That this House is appalled that Liberal Democrat-led Swansea Council plans felling a beautiful, healthy and vigorous 150 year old monkey puzzle tree in the grounds of Llwynderw Primary School, in West Cross, Swansea; notes that this proposal, in a landscaping scheme for the school, comes weeks after both the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education gave unequivocal assurances to local residents that the tree would be retained; is astonished that the recommendation to destroy the tree, on health and safety grounds, is based, in part, on the advice of a so-called expert who equated the danger to children posed by a monkey puzzle leaf to that of a discarded hypodermic syringe; and hopes that common sense will prevail and this marvellous landscape feature will be saved for the enjoyment of the children of the school and the people of that part of Swansea.","date":"2008-07-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36226","proposer":"10032","edm":"1905","session":"2007-08","title":"Twentieth Anniversary Of The Piper Alpha Disaster","text":"That this House notes with sadness the twentieth anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, which claimed the lives of 167 offshore workers on 6th July 1988; further notes the tireless contribution of the Piper Alpha Families' and Survivors' Association to the campaign to raise the standards of offshore safety, which benefits many of the thousands of other offshore workers today; notes the importance of the recommendations that were made in Lord Cullen's report into the disaster; and encourages active engagement between government, the Health and Safety Executive, employers and trades unions to continue to promote a safety culture in the North Sea and other oil provinces around the world.","date":"2008-06-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36165","proposer":"10218","edm":"1855","session":"2007-08","title":"Deaths At Work And Health And Safety Executive Enforcement","text":"That this House notes the findings of the recent Centre for Crime and Justice Studies Briefing which showed that there is a much higher chance of being killed by working than by inter-personal violence, and that there is a crisis in Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement indicated by a 49 per cent. fall in prosecutions by HSE over a five year period; and calls on the Government to introduce the following interim measures to implement in full and immediately the recommendations of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee in its 2004 report, The Work of the Health and Safety Commission and its Executive, HC 456, to amend the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to provide new rights for workplace safety representatives to stop the job where a hazard or risk of injury is identified, to introduce positive legal duties on directors to ensure the safety of workers and members of the public, and to require the HSE to develop proposals for publicising sentences of convicted companies.","date":"2008-06-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36175","proposer":"10105","edm":"1865","session":"2007-08","title":"Protecting Young People At Work","text":"That this House welcomes the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health seminar on 25th June to discuss ways of improving the safety and health of young people at work; recognises that safety and health must be taught in schools before students start work experience ensuring that they are better equipped to face the workplace environment; considers that the adequate vetting of placements and the suitable supervision will also contribute to protecting young people at work and strengthen business performance; and in this context calls on the Government to ensure that the teaching of safety and health is comprehensively integrated into the National Curriculum.","date":"2008-06-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"36131","proposer":"10105","edm":"1827","session":"2007-08","title":"170th Anniversary Of The Husker Pit Disaster","text":"That this House welcomes the Awards for All Grant and all other contributions that have made possible the staging of a play by local children at All Saints Church in Silkstone village to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the Husker Colliery disaster which happened on 4th July 1838 when 26 children were drowned, causing Victorian society to examine its laissez-faire attitude, leading to a national enquiry by the Children's Employment Commission of 1840 and to the first Mines Act of 1842 which prohibited females and boys under 10 years of age from working underground.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35785","proposer":"11707","edm":"1516","session":"2007-08","title":"Safer Strangers Safer Buildings Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Parliamentary launch of the Safer Strangers, Safer Buildings campaign on 7th May; recognises the work of PC Helena Hodgson in developing the Safer Strangers, Safer Buildings Code, based on Home Office advice; welcomes the production of the film Teigan Gets Lost by Child's Eye Media, one of a series of DVDs aimed at keeping children safe and healthy, which is being made available free of charge via their website for the benefit of children and their parents, carers and teachers; further notes the support for the campaign from the Children's Safety Education Foundation, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Kidscape and the Association of Chief Police Officers; and urges hon. and right hon. Members to promote the campaign in their constituencies.","date":"2008-05-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35792","proposer":"11783","edm":"1524","session":"2007-08","title":"Plastic Baby Bottles Containing Bisphenol A","text":"That this House notes that Bisphenol A, or BPA, a monomer used to make polycarbonate and epoxy resins, has been found to leak from the plastic used in many baby feeding bottles, especially when the bottles are heated or are scratched through repeated washing; notes that the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health, found that, based on animal experiments, exposure to low levels of BPA `can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty'; further notes that these products are being withdrawn in Canada as a precautionary measure; commends the decision by Asda and other UK retailers to produce BPA-free bottles; joins the National Childbirth Trust in calling for the clear compositional labelling of plastic baby feeding bottles with Bisphenol A so that parents can make an informed choice; and calls on the Food Standards Agency to urgently review the use of BPA in baby bottles in light of the new evidence.","date":"2008-05-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35773","proposer":"10105","edm":"1505","session":"2007-08","title":"PLEURAL PLAQUES AND THE LAW LORDS' DECISION (No. 2)","text":"That this House is concerned that proposals to overturn the decision of the Law Lords made on 17th October 2007 that pleural plaque is not a compensatable medical condition have not yet been forthcoming; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice speedily to introduce legislative proposals to reverse the judgement.","date":"2008-05-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35667","proposer":"10548","edm":"1417","session":"2007-08","title":"Extension Of Gangmasters Licensing Authority Remit","text":"That this House notes with concern the high number of deaths and injuries suffered by workers in the construction industry each year; and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to extend the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to protect the welfare of workers in the construction industry.","date":"2008-04-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35623","proposer":"10105","edm":"1376","session":"2007-08","title":"International Workers Memorial Day","text":"That this House notes that 28th April is International Workers Memorial Day; commemorates those who have died as a result of work; and calls on the Government to do what it can to officially mark the day whilst at the same time reducing the death toll caused by work by increasing resources for prevention of ill-health and injury in the workplace as recommended by the recent Work and Pensions Select Committee, Third Report of Session 2007-08, on The role of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive in regulating workplace health and safety, HC 246-I.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35500","proposer":"10608","edm":"1266","session":"2007-08","title":"Bhopal 23 Years On","text":"That this House deplores the continuing suffering of the people of Bhopal 23 years after the world's worst industrial disaster; notes that Amnesty International has reported ongoing violations of human rights, that contaminated factory land is still not properly cleaned up, that high quantities of organochlorines and lead pollute local water supplies, that there are continuing occurrences of birth deformities and ill health and that 15 people die each month as a result; congratulates the work of the Sambhavna medical clinic in treating victims of gas and water poisoning and that of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal in trying to make the government of India meet its obligations to provide clean water and adequate medical, social and economic rehabilitation; and further applauds the campaign for pursuing polluter pays principles against Dow Chemical and extradition of its fugitive subsidiary Union Carbide, which refuses to face charges in India of culpable homicide in connection with the deaths of 23,000 people.","date":"2008-03-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35390","proposer":"10105","edm":"1170","session":"2007-08","title":"Controls On Asbestos","text":"That this House notes that it is some time since the Interim Chemical Review Committee (ICRC), a part of the United Nations Environmental Programme, recommended that all forms of asbestos should be subject to strict international controls to eliminate the risk associated with the material; is shocked that although white asbestos was nominated by the ICRC for inclusion in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list of the Rotterdam Convention its entry on the list was stalled in 2006 by national governments led by Canada; is concerned that some international trades unions have reported an increase in asbestos diseases in Latin America and Asia particularly India; believes that parliaments and their members have a responsibility to ensure that decent work for a fair globalisation includes the right not to be exposed to hazardous materials; and calls on the UK Government to take the lead in pressing for white asbestos to be included in the Rotterdam Convention PIC list as a prelude to a global ban of what has been called the most pervasive environmental hazard in the world.","date":"2008-03-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35328","proposer":"10105","edm":"1113","session":"2007-08","title":"Colliery Screen Workers And The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Recommendation","text":"That this House welcomes the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council recommendation of November 2007 that the prescribed disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be extended to include those exposed to coal dust during screen work on the colliery surface for a minimum period of 40 years to 1983; and calls on the Department of Work and Pensions to complete its assessment of the recommendation as soon as possible so that the few survivors who are eligible to claim an industrial injuries disablement benefit award can do so and discussions can begin with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for a full and final compensation payment.","date":"2008-03-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35215","proposer":"10203","edm":"1017","session":"2007-08","title":"Contaminated Air On Commercial Aircraft","text":"That this House is concerned that medical and scientific evidence shows that as many as 200,000 passengers a year are exposed to air contaminated with organophosphates and hydrocarbon compounds on UK-registered aircraft and that the number of contaminated events in one recent year reported by the British Airline Pilots Association were a record high; regrets the lack of UK research into the danger of exposure to pyrolised engine oils; notes that effective filtration systems costing less than \u00c2\u00a310,000 per aircraft are available and calls for their mandatory use to reduce serious risks to the health of the travelling public and operating crews; and believes that passengers should be informed when they have been exposed to air contamination on UK registered aircraft.","date":"2008-02-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35199","proposer":"10105","edm":"1001","session":"2007-08","title":"Pleural Plaque Post Card Campaign","text":"That this House supports the Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians post card campaign launched outside the Ministry of Justice on 20th February 2008 protesting about the decision of the Law Lords made on 17th October 2007 that `pleural plaques' are not a compensatable medical condition; notes that prior to this judgement compensation had been paid for the last 20 years; is aware that expert medical opinion judges that pleural plaques only develop after prolonged asbestos exposure and that they indicate an increased risk of developing a more serious complication in later life; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to allow compensation for pleural plaques, recognising the condition as a permanent and irreversible structural change to the lining of the lung caused by negligent exposure to asbestos.","date":"2008-02-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"35163","proposer":"10105","edm":"970","session":"2007-08","title":"Action Mesothelioma Day 2008","text":"That this House welcomes Action Mesothelioma Day on 27th February; recognises that the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma kills someone every five hours in the United Kingdom; expresses alarm at the results of a recent survey by the British Lung Foundation that shows worryingly few tradespeople have received training on how to deal with asbestos or are aware that asbestos exposure can cause cancer; supports initiatives by the Health and Safety Executive in partnership with trades unions, trade associations, charities and suppliers to raise awareness amongst tradespeople of the risks from asbestos and to encourage them to find out about the precautions they should be taking; is encouraged by the results of a British Lung Foundation audit of cancer networks in England showing that most have adopted the Mesothelioma Framework; but also recognises that more effort is needed to improve treatment and care for people with mesothelioma by establishing more specialist multi-disciplinary teams.","date":"2008-02-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34980","proposer":"11221","edm":"815","session":"2007-08","title":"Asbestosis Pleural Plaques","text":"That this House calls on the Government to explore every avenue possible to reverse the recent decision of the Law Lords which has denied compensation to the victims of asbestosis pleural plaques.","date":"2008-01-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34875","proposer":"11869","edm":"718","session":"2007-08","title":"Rhianna Hardie And Safe Water Tanks","text":"That this House notes the verdict of the inquest into the death of 18 month old Rhianna Hardie, who was killed in her Taunton council home by boiling water seeping through the ceiling from a faulty water tank system in 2006; condemns the decision of the Health and Safety Executive not to issue safety warnings regarding faulty water tanks in council houses after the death of Sharon Minister in Penzance in 2002 in similar circumstances; recognises that the British Standard implemented since 2004 has increased safety by requiring all newly fitted thermostats in council housing to have a failsafe in the event of it becoming faulty; deeply regrets that the British Standard was not required to be retrospectively implemented and recognises that such an action could have prevented Rhianna's death in 2006; and calls on the Government to legislate to make the retrospective implementation of the British Standard mandatory in all council houses, thereby ensuring that such a tragedy is much less likely to happen again.","date":"2008-01-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34699","proposer":"11312","edm":"532A1","session":"2007-08","title":"PLEURAL PLAQUES AND THE LAW LORDS' DECISION","text":"after `fibre', insert `further notes the swift action taken by the SNP Scottish Government in announcing that they will bring forward a bill in the Scottish Parliament to reverse the effect of the ruling in Scotland.'.","date":"2007-12-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34672","proposer":"10105","edm":"532","session":"2007-08","title":"PLEURAL PLAQUES AND THE LAW LORDS' DECISION","text":"That this House is gravely concerned by the decision of the Law Lords on pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos delivered on 17th October 2007; notes that Professor Newman Taylor and Professor Mark Britton, world-renowned experts on asbestos-related diseases, have dispelled the myth held in some quarters that pleural plaques are widespread amongst the general population; considers that pleural plaques caused by the negligent exposure to asbestos make obvious that the body of a sufferer has been polluted by asbestos particles; believes that the polluter should pay compensation to those negligently contaminated by the fatal fibre; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to introduce legislative proposals to reverse the Law Lords' decision and avoid the development of a postcode lottery for those negligently exposed to asbestos.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34673","proposer":"10129","edm":"207A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Lords Ruling On Pleural Plaques","text":"at end add `, and furthermore to take careful note of the Scottish Cabinet's decision to introduce a Bill to reverse the House of Lords' judgment and enable those negligently exposed to asbestos who have been diagnosed with pleural plaques to continue to be able to raise and pursue actions for damages.'.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34323","proposer":"10105","edm":"221","session":"2007-08","title":"Mesothelioma And Nice Appraisal Procedure","text":"That this House recognises that since November 2004 Alimta has been the only licensed treatment for mesothelioma and since the Scottish Medicines Consortium's advice in July 2005 victims of asbestos in Scotland have had access to Alimta; welcomes the July 2007 National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommending Alimta; applauds some of the primary care trusts (PCTs) and boards that have made Alimta available in parts of England and Wales since 2005-06, notably in the North West and North East of England; is concerned that Alimta is not yet routinely available in other hot spots like Northern Ireland, Plymouth, Southampton, Eastleigh and London; welcomes the MSO1 clinical trial results comparing unlicensed therapies and notes that these other agents did not result in a significant survival benefit, reinforcing the case for Alimta; regrets that an appeal against the current NICE FAD announced on 24th August will not happen until 23rd November and that the report will not be available until 2008; notes that hundreds of patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are denied access to Alimta whilst some PCTs and boards wait for the NICE decision and guidance; urges NICE to review its processes to make it faster and more transparent given that this appraisal has already lasted nearly three years; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to review how best to remove the post code lottery and to accept, given the industrial nature of mesothelioma, that the Government has a duty for the wellbeing of workers and their families exposed to asbestos through no fault of their own.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34336","proposer":"10105","edm":"234","session":"2007-08","title":"Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health","text":"That this House is concerned that in the last year there were 212 workplace fatalities and that 328,000 people were seriously injured; is conscious that accidents at work and ill health cost society up to \u00c2\u00a331 billion a year; is alarmed that people without experience or qualifications can start up as a safety and health adviser; is troubled that a lack of clarity about competent safety and health advice can put people at an even greater risk in the workplace; and welcomes the call by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for the Government to bring forward measures to regulate the health and safety profession.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34309","proposer":"10105","edm":"207","session":"2007-08","title":"Lords Ruling On Pleural Plaques","text":"That this House is disappointed by the Lords of Appeal Judgment in the pleural plaques cases given on 17th October; believes that pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos result in physiological damage which constitutes a loss of faculty meriting compensation; calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to discuss with the Department for Work and Pensions the introduction of a register for those diagnosed with the disease to include details of employment and the employers' insurers and to instigate discussions on an appropriate compensation scheme financed by the insurance industry because it is now clear that workers suffering the condition will not get compensation through the courts.","date":"2007-11-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34252","proposer":"10715","edm":"156","session":"2007-08","title":"Parliamentary Inquiry Into Nuclear Test Veterans","text":"That this House notes the 50th anniversary of the beginning of British nuclear weapons tests at Christmas Island on 8th November 1957; further notes that servicemen involved in nuclear tests have subsequently attributed cases of ill health to their exposure to radiation during and after the tests; welcomes the conclusions of a recent cross-party inquiry into nuclear test veterans chaired by the hon. Member for Billericay and the hon. Member for Norwich North; believes that the current system for hearing claims for compensation is inconsistent, unfair and in need of complete reform, and that far greater recognition of this problem and co-operation with veterans is required from the Ministry of Defence; and therefore calls on the Government to respond positively to the recommendations of the inquiry, undertake new scientific studies into the effects of nuclear tests on human health, work with veterans to create a new framework for hearing claims for compensation, and ultimately honour its duty of care towards this loyal and dignified group of servicemen and their families.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34234","proposer":"10105","edm":"144","session":"2007-08","title":"Safety And Health At Work","text":"That this House welcomes the report `Bringing Justice to the Boardroom' commissioned by the Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians, which shows the failure of the voluntary guidance approach to encourage companies to nominate a director at board level for health and safety; is alarmed that only 44 per cent. of companies surveyed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had voluntarily appointed a director for health and safety; is concerned that only 21 per cent. of small and medium enterprises which now employ more than 50 per cent. of the UK's total workforce have nominated a director for health and safety; believes that after six years of voluntary guidance it is now time for legal change; considers that the voluntary guidance published by the Institute of Directors and the Health and Safety Commission will not motivate the necessary change in the boardroom that is required to revive the health and safety culture on the shop floor; notes that the research undertaken by Greenstreet Berman Limited for the HSE indicated that one of the major drivers in raising health and safety standards was individual legal responsibilities; and in this context calls on the Government to review the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 with a view to bringing forward measures to make the appointment of a company director at board level for health and safety a statutory duty.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Industrial health and safety","id":"34161","proposer":"10258","edm":"71","session":"2007-08","title":"Standing Areas At Football Grounds","text":"That this House urges the Government to accept the case for introducing small, limited sections of safe standing areas at football grounds; further urges the Government to recognise that there is widespread support for such areas and that improvements in stadium design and technology mean that with rigorous safety specifications, standing areas could be safely re-introduced; and calls on the Government to convene a meeting of representatives of the police, supporters, Premier League clubs and the Football Licensing Authority to find a way forward.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]